MOFA thanks EU parliament for its support of Taiwan

By Jenny W. hsu / STAFF REPORTER

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday thanked the European Parliament for supporting Taiwan’s observer status in international organizations not requiring statehood, saying such a resolution shows European countries are gradually increasing their support for Taiwan’s bid for increased international participation.

MOFA Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said the European Parliament is an important element of the EU and its resolution holds significant influence.

The “Resolution on Trade and Economic Relations with China” was passed on Feb. 5 in Strasbourg, France.

MOFA’s Web site said the parliament “welcomes the rapprochement between China and Taiwan; considers Taiwan as an economic and commercial entity, which is the EU’s 4th largest trade partner in Asia; supports Taiwan’s participation as observer in relevant international organizations where this does not require statehood, such as the International Labor Organization.”

“This resolution does not specify which international organization, which in our opinion shows major progress,” Chen said.

In 2002, the parliament passed a unanimous resolution supporting Taiwan as an observer at the World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the WHO.